Efficacy, Safety and Pharmacokinetic Study of Inhaled Esketamine in Treatment-resistant Bipolar Depression

This is a randomized, multiple dose, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre study of Esketamine DPI, inhalation powder delivered via dry powder inhaler (DPI) in participants with TRBD. There are 3 study phases: Screening phase, a two weeks double-blind treatment phase and a 6-week follow-up phase. Participants are to be randomized in 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive placebo or one of the three doses of Esketamine DPI. Participants from each group will receive different dosing sequences, consider as a single dose, corresponding to low, medium, high Esketamine dose or placebo. Participants will undergo one cycle of treatment consisting of four doses of Esketamine DPI or placebo over 14-day period. Participants safety will be monitored throughout the study.

Inclusion criteria

• Gender: female or male,
• Age: 18 - 65 years old, inclusive, on the day of Screening,
• Participant must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for depressive episode in Bipolar Disorder (BD) type I or II, without psychotic features, confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI),
• Participant must have in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score of >= 24 at Screening and predose on Day 1,
• Participant is treatment resistant in the current episode of depression, defined as having an inadequate response to at least 2 adequate mood stabilizing treatment regimens administered for the sufficient duration and dose and administered in the current episode of depression,
• Participant in the last mood stabilizing treatment regimen is to be administered at least one of the medication listed in the protocol,
• Participant's last mood stabilizing treatment regimen is to be without antidepressant drugs from the class: SSRI, SNRI, TCA, MAOI or NaSSA,
• Participant must be on stable mood stabilizing treatment regimen (listed in the protocol), remain non-responsive to it and continue the treatment from Screening to at least the duration of the double-blind treatment phase,
• Participant's other drugs taken as a standard treatment for bipolar disorder, but not for depressive episode treatment, are to be allowed and may be continued through the study and it's administration is up to Investigator discretion,
• Participant agrees to be hospitalized voluntarily for a period of 12 h before first administration and until the end of treatment phase on Day 14,
• Participant must be medically stable on the basis of clinical laboratory tests, physical examination, vital signs, 12-lead ECG,
• Participant agrees to blood sample collection for DNA analysis,
• Participant of childbearing potential willing to use acceptable forms of contraception.

Exclusion criteria

• Participant has a current DSM-5 diagnosis, according to MINI, of any other than BD disorder,
• Participant has a BD with a rapid-cycling course (≥ 4 episodes per year),
• Participant has in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) total score of greater than 12 at Screening and every other assessment,
• Participant has suicidal ideation in MADRS 'suicidal thoughts' subscale score greater or equal to 2 and/or in C-SSRS score greater or equal to 4 at Screening and/or has a history of suicidal thoughts within 6 months prior to Screening and/or history of suicidal attempt within 1 year prior to Screening,
• Participant has a history or current signs and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, liver or renal insufficiency, significant cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, hematologic, neurologic, rheumatologic or metabolic disturbances that are uncontrolled with medication change during last three months before Screening and/or that could influence the present general health condition at the Investigator's discretion,
• Participant has uncontrolled hypertension,
• Upper respiratory tract and/or chest infection and/or inflammation within 2 weeks preceding the first administration and during the treatment phase,
• Participant took part in other clinical trial within 90 days preceding the Screening,
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity, intolerance or contraindication to Esketamine/ketamine or its derivatives and/or to any study product excipients,
• Blood drawn within 30 days prior to inclusion to the study,
• History of drug, alcohol, chemical, sedatives or sleeping medications abuse or dependence (except nicotine or caffeine) within 2 years prior to Screening,
• Lifetime abuse or dependence on ketamine or phencyclidine,
• Positive results from pregnancy test for female participants,
• Lactation in female participants,
• Positive drug screen (except benzodiazepines evaluation during follow-up) or alcohol breath test.